Sound-reproducing machine.



P. B. DELANY.

SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1912.

1 ,1 90,249. Patented July 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. B. DELANY.

SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1912.

1 1 90,249, Patented July 4, 1916.

l0. Fi i/1 PATRICK B. DELANY, OF SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SOUND-REPRODUCING MACHINE.

Application filed May 29, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK B. DELANY, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new I and useful Improvement in Sound-Reproducing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to phonographs or talking machines and to the production of records therefor. Its object is to improve the quality of the musical tones or vocal utterances and to improve the behavior of the apparatus in other respects.

. In the accompanying drawings: Figures 1, 2, 3, a and 5 are respectively elevations partly in section, somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating a reproducer head and needle arm with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. (3 is a section on the line 6, 6, of-

Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a section on the line 7, 7, of Fig. 2; Fig. 8, a section on the line 8, 8, of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 a section on the line 9, :9, of Fig. 4; Fig. 10, a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification; Fig. 11, a like view showing a further modification; Fig. 12, a like view showing a modification in the reproducer head; Fig. 13, a transverse section through the reproducer head showing a manner of holding the reproducer disk; Fig. 14. a section on the line 14, 14, of Fig. 10.

1 indicates the reproducer head of which 2 is the sound emitting neck for connection with a horn or otherwise.

3' is the reproducer diaphragm mounted in the reproducer head in the ordinary way or otherwise, as hereinafter described.

4 is the reproducer arm attached at one end to the center of the reproducer diaphragm and carrying at its free end a needle head 5 adapted to receive a needle (5 to cooperate with the record. Of course, the shape of the record or record carrier is immaterial. It may be a disk or be cylindrical or otherwise.

Between the reproducer arm and its support, 1'. c. the reproducer head or other part,

is a means of preventing transmission of vibrations from the arm to the support and vice versa. Such vibrations are absorbed, smothered or suppressed by said means. This means is preferably 11011-11'1Qttllll0 and may be a compound of gums, waxes, etc. It should, by preference be a tenacious adhesive material or compound. and should be of such character as not to respond to and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Serial No. 700,394.

transmit the vibrations in question. Moreover it should preferably be of such a nature that its characteristics with respect to hardness and vibratility will not vary very materially with changes oftemperature.

I am aware that it has been proposed to introduce between the reproducer arm and head means designed to prevent vibrations being transmitted from one to the other: and I do not, therefor, broadly claim Such an idea. Experience has demonstrated that my organization, hereinafter described, is highly efficient and results in marked improvement in the purity and quality of reproduced tones, and perfection of records since the improvements are also applicable to recording machines, although particularly intended for reproducing machines.

On the support of the producer head is a cup-like receptacle or container 7, the closed end of which may, if desired, be mounted upon the support 8 of the repro ducer head by a screw thread connection 9 that permits of adjustment of the container. Within this container is placed the means for prevention of transmission of'vibrations, z. e. a mass of material having the characteristics referred to. Embedded in this mass of material is a projection 10 rigidly secured to and extending from the reproducer arm. In this way, the reproducer arm is afforded a suitable support and yet the object of this invention is attained.

The arm 10 or supporting extension of the reproducer arm 4: in Fig. 1 may be a round wire and, although it is not essential to the performance of the invention, it is provided with a cross head 11 on its inner end that gives it an anchorage in the mass of vibration absorbing means. This Wire 10 may be, and preferably is, of such character and dimensions as to be reasonably elastic.

Fig. 3 shows a similar arrangement except that the supporting arm attached to the reproducer arm is a flat spring 10 which may also be provided with a cross head 11 to give an anchorage in the mass. Preferably, the greatest dimension of this fiat spring is placed at right angles to the length of the reproducer arm.

In Fig. 2, the supporting arm projecting from and secured to the reproducer arm is a relatively non-elastic post 10 In the construction of Figs. 1 and 3, the elasticity required for movements of the reproducer arm may reside in .the arms 10,

' fiber or like hard substance in which the end of arm 10 is secured and around the arm within the container is placed the vibration absorbing material.

In Fig. 10 there is an arm 10 extending from the reproducer arm through a container 7 surrounded by the mass and havingits end rigidly secured by a screw 12 or otherwise to the support of the reproducer head. Here there is a direct metallic connection of the arm 10 which howe er is surrounded and in contact with the mass contained in the container. This is a form that experience has shown produces highly advantageous results. Approximately like results are afforded by the construction of Fig. 5 in which by means of the vulcanite block the arm 10 is held substantially rigid with respect to the container and its suport.

Fig. 11 shows a further modification. Here, as before, there is an arm 10 projecting from the reproducer arm. Its end is embedded in a block 13 of rubber of adequate hardness, preferably somewhat harder than an average rubber pencil eraser. In the container 7 surrounding and in contact with this rubber block is the mass of material.

Fig. 12 shows an arrangement in which there 'is secured in thehead in rear of the diaphragm 3 a diaphragm 14 having a central aperture for the passage to the diaphragm 3 of the end of the reproducer arm. The purpose of this diaphragm 14 is to maintain on the rear side of the reproducer diaphragm an air pressure approximately equal to the ail-pressure on the front or outer side, the effect being to produce a more even and generally satisfactory behavior of the apparatus.

The next feature of this invention relates to the manner of securing the reproducer diaphragm in its head and is shown in sufficient detail in Figs. 12 and 13. Here the diaphragm 3 is held between two circular gaskets 15 and the circumferential part of the reproducer head is formed interiorly with an annular chamber 16 in which the gaskets and edge of the diaphragm are located. A filling 17 of adhesive compound is packed in chamber 16, surrounds the gaskets, embraces the edge of the diaphragm and serves to attach the diaphragm and gaskets to each other adhesively. The gaskets are preferably cylindrical in cross section and may consist of rubber tubes of appropriate hardness within which are disposed cores of wire or of vulcanized rubber of greater hardness than the tubes, or cores of other character may be employed.

18 indicates the cores disposed within the tubular gaskets.

The adhesive compound serves to protect the rubber gaskets from oxidation and consequent deterioration because of atmospheric influences, and therefore the rubber retains its initial characteristics for long periods of time and the diaphragm is held at its edges under substantially uniform conditions. To afford. an appropriate finish a ring may be expanded within the head and against the gaskets, or mass surrounding them.

The container may be and preferably is cast in one piece with the head as in Fig. 1.

or may be separately formed and attached to the head by a screw thread, as in several of the figures, or otherwise. It is considered desirable that the inner side walls of the retainer be roughened in a manner to prevent displacement or withdrawal of the nonvibratory mass; and for that purpose they may be screw threaded as shown at 9 in Fig. 1.

A material for use at the support of the stylus arm or bar and suitable for the purpose of this invention should be, when heated, fluid or plastic, so as to be readily cast or molded at the point of support of the stylus bar, and also be adhesive to insure intimate contact with the parts of the support. It should, when set, be solid and retentive of form; be durable and unchangeable under all ordinary weather conditions; be inert to vibrations, e. non-transmissible to vibrations, but should possess adequate local molecular mobility under the slight vibratory movements of the support embedded therein. Material having these characteristics has been found in compounds consisting of Stockholm tar, resin, gutta percha, etc. which in practice have produced very satisfactory results. It may consist of one part by weight of Stockholm tar, one part by weight of resin and three parts by weight of gutta-percha. Such a mixture produces a meltable mass which on cooling becomes hard and has the desired characteristics before mentioned.

In my copending application for Patent No. 789,939, filed Jan. 8, 1913 I have claimed a construction involving a diaphragm held in place by a retaining gasket consisting of a non-stretchable core of wire or other rela tively hard material covered with insulating material which is molded on the core.

In my application for Patent No. 867,709,

filed Oct, 21, 1914 I have claimed a method herein generally described of connecting certain parts of the reproducing mechanism of a talking machine.

In by copending application, No.86? ,7: 10, filed Oct. 21, 1914, I have shown certain 1mprovements on the invention herein claimed and have claimed among other things a construction in which the support for the stylus arm is rigidly attached to said arm and is rigidly connected with the head whichcarries the diaphragm and in which a fixed plastic mass inert to vibrations, embraces the sides of said support. I have also claimed in said application, No. 867,710, a construc tion in which the stylus arm of the diaphragm carries a flexible metallic part embedded in a yielding meltable mass.

I claim:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a diaphragm, a vibrating arm cooperating therewith and having a lateral projection, a support for said lateral projection, and a meltable mass interposed between said support and said projection.

2. In a talking machine, the combination of a diaphragm, a hol "er in which 1t is mounted, a vibrating ar 1 cooperating with the diaphragm and provided with a lateral projection, a support for said pro ectlon carried by the diaphragm holder, and a melt able mass interposed between said support and said projection.

3. The combination of a diaphragm, its holder, an arm cooperating with the diaphragm, a plastic nrass attached to the holder and positioned to. one side of the arm, and a support attached to said arm and embedded in the plastic mass.

4. The combination of a diaphragm, an arm cooperating therewith, a fixed container, a plastic adhesive compound within the container, the container and compound being positioned at one side of.the arm, and a support projecting from said arm and embedded in the pastic compound.

5. Thecombination of a diaphragm, its head or holder, a cooperating vibrating arm, a support for said arm rigidly attached thereto and projecting laterally therefrom, and a fixed plastic mass inert to vibrations embracing the sides of said support and connecting it withthe diaphragm head or holder.

6. The combination of a diaphragm, its cooperating vibrating arm, a support pro jecting from said arm and a fixed meltable plastic adhesive mass in which said support is embedded.

7. In a sound box for talking machines, the combination of a diaphragm, its actuating member, a support for said member projecting laterally therefrom, a holder for the outer end of said projection, and a yielding meltable mass connecting the projection with said holder.

8. In a sound box for talking machines, the combination of a diaphragm, its actuating member, and a support for said member comprising a metallic part connected with the actuating member, and a suitably supported meltable mass firmly connected with said metallic part.

9. The combination of a diaphragm and a retaining gasket therefor, consisting of a relatively hard non-stretchable core closely inclosed with adhering insulating material.

10. The combination of a diaphragm and a retaining gasket therefor, consisting of a non-stretchable wire core and a covering of insulating material closely surrounding and adhering to the core.

11. The combination of a diaphragm, a supporting frame therefor, a pair of retaining gaskets on opposite sides of the diaphragm within the frame each composed of a relatively hard core covered with closely adhering insulating material and an adhesive plastic material applied to the gaskets and the edge of the diaphragm and which connects them with said frame.

12. In a talking machine reproducer, a diaphragm mounted between non-stretchable wires covered with insulating material and embedded in a plastic preparation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PATRICK B. DELANY.

lVitnesses:

LAURA E. MUTH, L. S. BROWNING. 

